Why I Love YA/NA Books And Other Musings

Yet another 'two blog posts in a day' anomaly. I was encouraged to make my blog posts a bit shorter and make them more frequently-let's face it, I can get wordy.

I get a lot of eyebrow raising and ribbing because I prefer to read YA/NA (Young Adult/New Adult) books. Don’t get me wrong-I love reading almost everything but I prefer this niche.

 I know people don’t get why I do but despite what you might think, most YA is well-written. Yes there are the epic fails, but those occur within any genre. Blaming YA/NA books for ruining literature as we know it? I say BS, baby.

With the influx of books to read in the genre, it’s actually upped readership overall. People who haven’t read in years have found a gateway through YA/NA. Some stay tethered to it while others branch out to other areas of literature. I stay centered in YA but I read everything except extensive self-help books.  Those just don’t do anything for me.

Some of the best books I’ve ever read in my life were YA/NA.  (Anne McCaffrey and John Green I’m looking at you). I’ve read a few YA/NA series’ several times over and they never get old or lose their appeal for me.

Someone asked me how I could read kid’s books at my age. First off, I make no bones about being an old lady with a young heart.  And secondly I don’t read kids books. I do write them, however. Some of you pre-read “Mommy are you Broken” for me about The Midget’s issues when I had my surgeries).

It’s completed and edited, but on hold for now while I decide  whether or not to write a couple more and release them as a series. The kid book market is one of the hardest to break into in the business, so I want to make sure the quality and marketability for it is top notch before I toss it out and shop it.

Another thing I get is “How can you write that stuff?” when dealing with sensitive or gritty subject matter, or even language. It can be difficult to separate the writer from the character.  It can be difficult for me to write, but it’s a process and character development is its own beast. 

Some things I’m working on are very gritty and raw and show sides of human nature that is at its basest level. Again, that’s the character, not me. I’m not writing anything too over the top, rest assured. Sometimes I draw from my own experiences to add depth to a character, sometimes it writes itself and I can only hang on and go for the ride.

I’m a very emotional person and I can relate to the intense and gut wrenching all over the place emotion that is written into these books. Of course my memories of my teens were old school-before the age of tech. The internet didn’t even exist then. Books were my main escape and I read nearly anything I could get my hands on. I just related to YA/NA more.

I love it all-paranormal, dystopian post-apocalyptic, fantasy, and so on. 

I just like what I like. You shouldn't feel like you are cornered just because you read it. We have a finite number of days in this life and it’s too short not to do what you love, unless you are a serial killer but that’s a discussion for another day.

I've decided to take part in a read along for one of my favorite series and I’m kind of excited about it. I’ve never taken part in one and while I’m much older that most of them, I still feel the same enthusiasm that they do. One thing I found interesting is that a large majority of YA/NA readers are older-not always as old as me, but you get the idea. 

Often times when I’m making new online friends I start with “your favorite old lady from Idaho.” (Because I AM old).  Some find me odd, others get where I’m coming from. Once you get over your initial head scratching and trying to figure me out, you’ll find I’m just as complex and nutty as everyone else on this planet-but most of all I am sincere.  I just happen to have the mindset of a twenty-something. It’s led to some interesting adventures.

 A big home project is to sort through my bookcases and donate the books I don’t want or read anymore. With my Nook and the 4-5 shelves full of books stacked double thick, I won’t ever run short of reading material.

Even after I thin down what I have and go through the 8 boxes (yes, 8) of books in my garage I will have a full house, book wise. As much as I love my Nook, there is nothing like the smell or weight of a book in your hand. *cue the schmooze*

Some of my current favorites are:

 Jennifer Armantrout’s Covenant, Lux, and Dark Elements series.

John Green’s The Fault in our Stars and Looking for Arizona.

VeronicaRoth’s Divergent series.

 Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life as we knew it series.

Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series.

Just about everything written by Anne McCaffrey.

.If you have any good book recommendations or would like me to review one for you, comment or shoot me an email and I will see what I can do.

If you are an author, I would be happy to ARC and review. (Wend Peltzer, I am looking at you.)

Happy reading!

Until next time,

-Robyn 

Calling all YA Book Lovers!

I have shared with you that Jennifer Armentrout is one of my favorite authors.
I also love her Lux series. Easy and entertaining reads, I've enjoyed them over and over. 

I will definitely be adding the compact volumes to my shelf!

On June 3, 2014 Lux: Beginnings will be released!


Obsidian

There's an alien next door. And with his looming height and eerie green eyes, he's hot...until he opens his mouth. He's infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, he lights me up with a big fat bulls-eye. Turns out he has a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal his abilities and the only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to him until my alien mojo fades. If I don’t kill him first, that is.

Onyx

Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro alien connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems. I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?




ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

To get the latest updates on the Lux series and her other amazing books you can check out her website, Twitter, and Facebook.

You can preorder them here:

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

Add to Goodreads here.


And an added bonus!

We will also be raffling off two fan inspired artwork from fans of the Lux series sent from the author, Jennifer L. Armentrout, herself.

The Giveaway

 
 
  

Hurts, Hopes, and a Return from the Abyss.

 Hi there!

I've been MIA for some time now.  I ended up being distracted by my own inertia again.  I think it's happened to the best of us at some point or another.

I dealt with the loss of two pets in a 45 day span, and it's taken a lot more out of me that I'd realized. The loss of a pet is never easy.  Smirk all you want to but I get all schmoozy and snuggly with our pets. Yes, I consider them family members. 

I am usually able to try and convince myself that I've emotionally distanced myself when dealing with the more unpleasant aspects of critter maintenance but when all is said and done, reality kicks in and my heart hurts. I cry. I get a bit depressed.  Sometimes I feel guilty. Then I feel self conscious because I feel all of the above.

RIP to our beloved Shih Tzu Ming and our giant fuzzball Rowan Alexander. They were best buddies and generally slept together. It was still odd that through unexpected circumstances they went within a month of each other.  
  

********

I took part in NaNoWriMo again this year and did indeed complete a new novel. What is NaNoWriMo you ask?  It's when crazy people like me take part in a literary event where the goal is to write 50,000 words during the month of November-my final word count was 54,773.

Besides the personal kudos and self patting on the back, we get a certificate:

I'd planned to work off an outline I did last year but as usual a new story begged to come to life.  It's different than what I've written before-no paranormal, no dystopian apocalypse. Now comes the really hard part-editing!

Here is the working cover and title for now :

 

 

Here is a brief excerpt but please bear in mind that this is unedited and might contain a bazillion mistakes and overwhelming amounts of purple. (See the blog post on "Purple"). I was lazy and figured it was easier for me to just cut and paste this straight from my NaNo page.

 

Synopsis

Mercy and Seth. Best Friends. An uncertain future. A story about boy and a girl.

Excerpt

The waves crashed around Seth, the power thundering through the surf as the gentler foam carpet encapsulated his feet. Mercy screeched as the cold surrounded her ankles. She ran back to the dry sand, giggling and laughing with the unspoiled innocence that often accompanies this stage of childhood.

“Got you!’ he shouted as he jumped into the next wave. Saltwater soaked her as it continued its journey.

Mercy's eyes sparkled mischievously even as the thought entered her mind. She ran forward, hoping to meet the next wave before Seth did. She would spin at the last minute and douse him in turn. As she leapt forward to greet the snowy white froth she couldn’t help but savor a moment of freedom.

Frozen in time, for mere seconds, she felt the elation of having no limitations or boundaries. She wondered if this was how the sea gulls felt as they skimmed the waves and slice through the coastal winds. The sun warming her skin against the brisk sea breeze, like a mermaid enjoying a lazy afternoon. The seals as they played among the larger, but gentle, swells farther out.

Not wanting to release that moment, she looked up at the fluffy clouds from where her guardian angels surely watched in amusement over their charge, waiting at the ready to carry her to the heavens should something go awry.

Her toes touched the water as she descended and she mourned, as gravity and the world around her regained their control. She could not bear the loss. She turned to tell Seth of the sadness of it all, but he was focused on something at the edge of the sand. He looked up at her and pointed down.

Now was the time! Mercy took a few steps closer and bent as if to see what he had discovered, but at the last minute, scooped up a handful of water and sea weed and threw it at him. Seth’s eyes registered shock, a momentary flare of anger, followed by same spark of mischief she had worn moments before.

The waves crashed around them again and again, the power thundering through the surf as the gentler foam carpet encapsulated their feet in a dance as old as time. She screeched as he started to chase her through the water.

Mercy ran back to the dry sand, giggling and laughing with the unspoiled innocence that often accompanies this stage of childhood. They spent many summers that way.

***

 I'm actually really excited about this one. For the first time that I can remember, my playlist won't leave my head.  It's pretty cool too. I can post it if you want-just ask in the comments.

 

 

I am going to double post today in my attempt to make up my absence to you.

 

I hope your day is peaceful and serene.

 

Robyn :)

 

 

What am I reading?

 

I am reading a really neat book- "Isaac's Storm" by Erik Larson. It's a well-written true story.  Follow the link to a detailed description. I'm still in the first few chapters but it's one I have to be careful of reading at night because it's so hard to put down.

 

 

What am I up to?

 

Several friends and acquaintances are expecting or have had their babies in the last two weeks, so I am attempting to make a little something for each of them.

 

That's about it for now!